Tabby's Place

Tabby's Place is a nonprofit cat sanctuary in Ringoes, New Jersey, established to provide refuge for cats in severe medical, behavioral, or shelter-risk situations. The organization operates as a cage-free sanctuary, adoption center, veterinary facility, and hospice rather than as a conventional commercial pet brand. Its principal population comes from high-volume public animal shelters and animal-control systems where cats may otherwise be euthanized, although it has also accepted cats through rescue partnerships and selected public referrals. The sanctuary was created by Jonathan and Sharon Rosenberg in memory of Tabby, a stray brown tabby cat they adopted. After Tabby died from untreatable squamous cell carcinoma, Jonathan Rosenberg left his position as chief technology officer at CNET and used proceeds from company stock options to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The facility opened in 2003 with the stated purpose of assisting cats regarded by ordinary shelter systems as difficult or impossible to place. Its admission philosophy does not exclude cats solely because they are elderly, chronically ill, disabled, blind, infected with feline immunodeficiency virus or feline leukemia virus, or affected by cancer and other serious conditions. Tabby's Place generally houses about 120 to 130 cats, with capacity shaped by medical needs and available resources. The facility includes communal, cage-free living areas; specialized rooms for cats requiring enhanced medical care; outdoor enclosures; exercise and socialization areas; and an in-house medical operation. In addition to adoption, the organization provides hospice and long-term sanctuary care. People unable to adopt can support individual cats through sponsorship or virtual adoption programs. The sanctuary also participates in public education, open houses, microchipping events, animal-behavior instruction, and spay-and-neuter initiatives. Its work has periodically attracted national and regional media attention. Individual residents such as Tashi, a paraplegic cat, helped illustrate the sanctuary's special-needs mission, while the rescue of cats from Okinawa in 2010 marked its first documented international rescue. Later international relationships included rescues connected with Lebanon, Oman, and Puerto Rico. Tabby's Place has also appeared in animal-focused television and online media and has collaborated with Best Friends Animal Society on trap-neuter-return education. The organization expanded its capacity in 2023 with Quinn's Corner, a specialized facility designed to accommodate as many as 50 additional cats, particularly those testing positive for feline leukemia virus. Funding has primarily come from individual donors; individuals accounted for 97 percent of income reported for 2016 in the cited reference material. Tabby's Place remains defined by a mission-driven, donor-supported model centered on permanent care, medical treatment, adoption, and humane refuge rather than product sales.

Tabby's Place began with the rescue and adoption of a stray brown tabby cat by Jonathan and Sharon Rosenberg. They named the cat Tabby and later created the sanctuary in his memory after he died from untreatable squamous cell carcinoma. Jonathan Rosenberg, who had been chief technology officer at CNET, left that role and committed proceeds from company stock options toward establishing a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Tabby's Place opened in 2003 in Ringoes, New Jersey, with a mission to offer refuge to cats in circumstances considered hopeless by conventional shelter systems. The organization developed a model combining sanctuary care, adoption, veterinary treatment, hospice, and public education. It prioritized cats from high-volume public shelters and animal-control programs where euthanasia was being considered. Unlike many adoption programs, Tabby's Place did not make age, disability, chronic illness, or difficult medical status automatic grounds for exclusion. Its residents have included cats with diabetes, cancer, blindness, neurological conditions, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, and paraplegia. The sanctuary's cage-free design includes shared living areas, sunlight-accessible outdoor spaces, medical rooms, and specialized suites intended to support both quality of life and ongoing treatment. The sanctuary reached its 500th intake in 2007. In 2008 and 2009, extensive coverage of Tashi, a paraplegic resident, brought wider attention to the organization's special-needs work. In 2010, Tabby's Place accepted three cats rescued from Okinawa after a shelter closure placed them at risk of euthanasia. This was described as the organization's first international rescue, followed by relationships involving rescues from Lebanon, Oman, and Puerto Rico. The facility generally housed approximately 120 to 130 cats and continued to operate with a combination of staff, veterinary personnel, managers, volunteers, and donor support. Tabby's Place broadened its community role through education and outreach. It hosted a Trap-Neuter-Return Boot Camp with Best Friends Animal Society in 2011 and has supported access to low-cost sterilization initiatives, while later relying substantially on the local Hunterdon TNR organization. Annual open houses have included microchip services, animal-behavior demonstrations, and short educational classes. The sanctuary has also used sponsorship and virtual-adoption programs for supporters who cannot take a cat home. Public attention has included appearances or coverage in animal-focused television, local newspapers, online video, and national news. In 2014, a portion of funds raised through a tour involving the internet-famous cat Lil Bub was donated to Tabby's Place. A 2015 Kitten Shower introduced visitors to adoptable kittens and included a literary event with Gwen Cooper. In 2016, the sanctuary used a temporary reduced fee to encourage adoption of cats over ten years old, a significant group within its resident population. Recognition has included a 2005 New Jersey Veterinary Foundation Award for Jonathan Rosenberg, a 2009 Shining World Hero Award for Jonathan and Sharon Rosenberg, and a 2011 New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame Award for the sanctuary's volunteer-nominated 'SuperCats.' In August 2023, Tabby's Place opened Quinn's Corner, its first major expansion, adding capacity for as many as 50 cats and placing particular emphasis on cats diagnosed with feline leukemia virus. The organization continues to operate as an active, donor-supported sanctuary and adoption center.

• 2023

  Quinn's Corner opens

  [1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Tabby's Place opens its first major expansion, adding capacity for up to 50 cats with special attention to FeLV-positive residents.

• 2011

  Animal Hall of Fame recognition

  [1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  The sanctuary's volunteer-nominated SuperCats receive the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association's Animal Hall of Fame Award.

• 2010

  First international rescue

  [1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Cats from Okinawa are transferred to Tabby's Place after a shelter closure puts them at risk.

• 2007

  500th cat intake

  [1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  The sanctuary documents its 500th intake.

• 2005

  Jonathan Rosenberg receives veterinary foundation recognition

  [1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  The New Jersey Veterinary Foundation gives Jonathan Rosenberg its award recognizing his animal-welfare work.

• 2003

  Tabby's Place opens

  [1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Jonathan and Sharon Rosenberg establish and open the New Jersey cat sanctuary as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in memory of their cat Tabby.

A mission-led, no-kill sanctuary focused on cats facing euthanasia, serious illness, disability, or long-term shelter vulnerability. Tabby's Place combines permanent refuge, medical care, adoption, hospice, and public education in a specialized cage-free setting.

• Animal adoption service · 2003

  Cat adoption

  Tabby's Place places sanctuary residents into adoptive homes when their medical, behavioral, and social circumstances permit. The program includes cats that may be difficult to place through ordinary shelters because of age, disability, chronic disease, or special care requirements.

• Animal welfare and veterinary care · 2003

  Sanctuary and hospice care

  The sanctuary provides cage-free long-term refuge, palliative support, and hospice care for cats that cannot immediately be adopted or require continuing medical supervision. Its approach is designed to preserve comfort and dignity even when treatment or recovery is limited.

• Donor-support program

  Cat sponsorship and virtual adoption

  Supporters who cannot adopt can contribute through sponsorship or virtual adoption. These programs connect donors with individual cats and help fund food, housing, medical care, and other ongoing sanctuary expenses.

• Specialized sanctuary facility · 2023

  Quinn's Corner

  Quinn's Corner is an expansion opened in 2023 with room for as many as 50 additional cats. The facility places particular emphasis on cats diagnosed with feline leukemia virus and expands Tabby's Place's ability to provide specialized sanctuary care.

• 2015Kitten Shower

  United States

  The sanctuary opened a visitor event featuring adoptable kittens, educational programming, and a reading and book signing by Gwen Cooper.

  Outcome. Approximately 20 kittens were presented for adoption and the event raised public awareness of the sanctuary.

  Source
• 2014Lil Bub fundraising support

  United States

  A portion of funds generated through a tour featuring Lil Bub was donated to Tabby's Place.

  Outcome. The donation provided external fundraising support for the sanctuary's work.

  Source
• 2011Trap-Neuter-Return Boot Camp

  United States

  Tabby's Place hosted a training event with Best Friends Animal Society focused on trap-neuter-return practices for community cats.

  Outcome. The event strengthened the sanctuary's educational and community-cat outreach role.

  Source

• 2023

  Expansion for FeLV-positive catsStrategy

  Background

  The sanctuary needed additional space to support its no-kill and special-needs mission, including care for cats diagnosed with feline leukemia virus.

  Action taken

  Tabby's Place opened Quinn's Corner, a specialized expansion with capacity for up to 50 more cats.

  Aftermath

  The expansion increased the organization's ability to house and care for FeLV-positive and other special-needs cats.

  Source

• 2016

  Reduced adoption fee for senior catsPrice change

  Background

  A substantial portion of the sanctuary's population consisted of cats older than ten, who can face greater difficulty finding adoptive homes.

  Action taken

  Tabby's Place temporarily reduced the adoption fee for cats over ten years old from $135 to $50.

  Aftermath

  The measure was presented as a special adoption incentive; the sanctuary has also used occasional promotional rates for holidays and events.

  Source

• 2023

  Tabby's Place opens Quinn's Corner expansion[1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The sanctuary celebrated the opening of Quinn's Corner, a new facility intended to provide room for up to 50 additional cats, especially cats living with feline leukemia virus.

• 2016

  Tabby's Place introduces senior-cat adoption pricing[1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Pricing

  The sanctuary temporarily reduced the adoption fee for cats older than ten from $135 to $50, highlighting the adoption needs of its senior population.

• 2015

  Tabby's Place holds kitten adoption event[1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The sanctuary opened a Kitten Shower event to visitors, with approximately 20 kittens available for adoption and a reading and signing by author Gwen Cooper.

• 2011

  Tabby's Place hosts trap-neuter-return training[1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The sanctuary hosted a Trap-Neuter-Return Boot Camp in cooperation with Best Friends Animal Society, supporting education around community-cat population management.

• 2010

  Tabby's Place completes first international rescue transfer[1]Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Three stray cats from Okinawa were transferred to Tabby's Place after a local shelter closure threatened them with euthanasia. The rescue became the sanctuary's first documented international intake.

1. 1Tabby's Placeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tabby's Place official websitetabbysplace.org